Jackie Chan flick set to be Hong Kong's biggest ever

Martial arts icon Jackie Chan is shaping up for his role in The Highbinder, a kung fu fantasy shot in the English language and predominantly set in his native Hong Kong. With a budget set at $35m (£24m), the film will be Hong Kong's most expensive production ever.

The film is being backed by the Emperor Media Group, who have secured an American director in Reginald Hudlin (Boomerang) and plan some globe-hopping location work as far afield as Australia and Ireland.

The company is gambling on both the proven international appeal of Chan and this year's prospective SAG strike which looks set to limit Hollywood production this year. As a result, English-language films shot outside the US and featuring bankable stars may well find their selling power at an all-time high.

"We are keen to secure distributing partners, but do not need to hurry a US sale," producer Alfred Cheung told Screen Daily. "With an English-language Jackie Chan film that will be available whether or not the SAG strike goes ahead, we are in the happy position of having distributors come to us." The Highbinder goes before the cameras in June or July.